WRC-TV

WRC-TV
Washington, D.C.
Branding	NBC 4 (general) News 4 (newscasts)
Slogan	Working 4 You Washington's News Leader
Channels	Digital: 48 (UHF) Virtual: 4 (PSIP)
Subchannels	(see article)
Affiliations	NBC
Owner	NBCUniversal (NBC Telemundo License, LLC)
First air date	June 27, 1947
Call letters' meaning	Radio Corporation of America (NBC's former parent)
Sister station(s)	Comcast Network CSN Washington
Former callsigns	WNBW (1947-1954)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 4 (VHF, 1947-2009)
Transmitter power	813 kW
Height	242 m
Facility ID	47904
Transmitter coordinates	38°56′24″N 77°4′54″W
Website	www.nbcwashington.com

WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city ofWashington, D.C.. The station's studios and transmitter are co-located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of northwest Washington.^[1]

WRC-TV houses and originates NBC News' Washington bureau, out of which David Gregory, Chris Matthews, Jim Miklaszewski, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Norah O'Donnell, Savannah Guthrie, David Shuster, and Pete Williams are based.

History[]

250px-WRC-TV — WRC-TV's studio/transmitter facility, which also houses NBC's Washington operations, have been in use since 1958. (Photo is from c. 1962.)

On October 18, 1954, its callsign changed to the present WRC-TV to match its sister radio station WRC (980 AM, now WTEM) and WRC-FM (93.9 MHz, now WKYS), which reflected NBC's ownership at the time by RCA. It has retained its "-TV" suffix to this day—more than two decades after its former radio sisters had changed their call signs.The station traces its roots to experimental W3XNB, which was put on the air by the Radio Corporation of America, the then-parent company of NBC, in 1939. On June 27, 1947, the station received a commercial license and went on the air as WNBW (for NBC Washington). It is Washington's second-oldest licensed television station, after WTTG (channel 5). WNBW was also the second of the five original NBC-owned television stations to sign-on, behind New York City and ahead of Chicago, Cleveland and Los Angeles.

The second presidential debate between candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon was broadcast from the station's studios on October 7, 1960. David Brinkley's Washington segment of the Huntley-Brinkley Report originated at WRC-TV between 1956 and 1970.

The earliest color videotape in existence is a recording of the dedication of NBC/WRC's Washington studios on May 22, 1958. As Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke at the event, it was also the first time a president had been videotaped in color. [1]

WRC-TV is one of three network owned-and-operated stations in Washington, D. C., along with Fox Broadcasting Company's WTTG andMyNetworkTV's WDCA (channel 20) - both owned by News Corporation.

On January 14, 2009 WRC-TV and WTTG entered in talks to pool video and share their news helicopters. The agreement is similar to ones already made between other Fox and NBC O&Os in Chicago (WMAQ-TV and WFLD) and Philadelphia (WCAU and WTXF).^[2]

WRC-TV was the final network affiliated station in the Washington Metropolitan Area to cease news broadcasts in standard definition. On Thursday, April 8, 2010, during the Today show newsbreaks, the station tested the high-definition version of its newscasts and broadcast the newsbreak in HD, but the news was back in standard definition at their next full newscast at 11 a.m. NBC4 started broadcasting from a temporary set on February 8, 2010 while "upgrades" were being made on its main set and the station made final adjustments for its switch to high definition. As of Thursday, April 22, 2010, all newscasts produced by NBC4 are in high definition.

Digital programming[]

WRC-TV's signal is multiplexed. It offers Washington Nonstop on digital channel 4.2 and Universal Sports on 4.3.

Virtual Channel	Digital Channel	Programming
4.1	48.1	main WRC-TV programming / NBC HD
4.2	48.2	Cozi TV
4.3	48.3	Lx

On or before June 12, 2009, WRC-TV shut down its analog signal on channel 4 to complete its analog to digital conversion. Its digital signal remained on channel 48.^[3] However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display WRC-TV's virtual channel as "4".

WRC-TV's studios were the home from 1996 to about 2002 of WHD-TV, an experimental high definition television station owned by a consortium of industry groups and stations which carried the nation's first program in the format transmitted by a television station, an episode of Meet the Press,^[4] and aired on Channel 34 to provide the FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters a channel to conduct many experiments in the new format.^[5]^[6] WHD-TV was discontinued around 2002.

The station started broadcasting its local news programs in High Definition full time on April 22, 2010. It is the only station in the U.S. capital that shoots most of its remote field video in16:9 widescreen; other stations still shoot live field video in 4:3 and then either pillarbox or stretch this content.

Programs[]

WRC-TV's studios are home to Meet the Press, the longest-running show in U.S. broadcast television history, which debuted on November 6, 1947 and It's Academic, which premiered in 1961 and is the longest-running game show in television history according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Sam and Friends, Jim Henson's late-night precursor to Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, got its start on WRC-TV on May 9, 1955.

Because of its ownership by the network, WRC-TV generally airs the entire NBC schedule, though NBC Nightly News is broadcast a half-hour late (at 7 p.m.) to allow another 30 minutes of local news. WRC-TV was the over-the-air home of Washington Redskins pre-season games for the 2009 season, meaning that some or all of NBC's prime-time schedule was pre-empted by game coverage.

Like other NBC-owned stations, WRC-TV's syndicated program offerings include Access, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show among others.

On-air staff[]

Current[]

News 4 anchors[]

Doreen Gentzler - Weeknights @ 6pm & 11pm; also health reporter (1989–present)
Angie Goff - Weekend mornings; also fill-in anchor & weekday reporter (2011-present)
Erika Gonzalez - Weekend evenings @ 6pm & 11pm
Jim Handly - Weekdays @ 5pm & 11pm (1992-present)
Wendy Rieger - Weeknights @ 5pm and Going Green reporter (1988-present)
Pat Lawson Muse - Weekdays @ 4pm and Reporter's Notebook & This Week host (1982-present)
Eun Yang - Weekday morning anchor (2002-present)
Chris Lawrence - Weekdays @ 4pm; News4's Live Desk reporter (2014-present)
Barbara Harrison - Midday anchor and Wednesday's Child host (1981-present)
Adam Tuss - Sunday Morning anchor; also Transportation reporter (2012-present)
Aaron Gilchrist - Weekday morning anchor (2010-present)
David Culver - Saturday morning anchor; also Northern Virginia Bureau reporter (2012-present)

News 4 reporters[]

Jackie Bensen - General assignment reporter (1999-present)
Julie Carey - Northern Virginia Bureau Chief (1992-present)
Pat Collins - General assignment reporter (1986-present)
David Culver - Northern Virginia Bureau reporter; also Saturday morning anchor (2012-present)
Chris Gordon - Legal analyst & reporter (2009-present)
Molette Green - Weekday Morning reporter (2014-present)
Meagan Fitzgerald - General assignment reporter (2015-present)
Steve Handelsman - General assignment reporter; national correspondent (1984-present)
Susan Hogan - Consumer reporter (2016-present)
Steve MacFarlane - I-Team reporter (2014-present)
Megan McGrath - General assignment reporter (daughter of WTTG's Patrick McGrath) (1999-present)
Melissa Mollett - First 4 Traffic reporter; Weekday Mornings (2010-present)
Tracie Potts - National & International reporter (2003-present)
Mark Seagraves - General assignment reporter (2013-present)
Tom Sherwood - Political reporter (1989-present)
Darcy Spencer - General assignment reporter (2001-present)
Shomari Stone - General assignment reporter (2011-present)
Adam Tuss - Transportation reporter; also Sunday Morning anchor (2012-present)
Derrick Ward - General assignment reporter (2006-present)
Tracee Wilkins - Prince George's County bureau reporter (2009-present)
Kristin Wright - General assignment reporter (2013-present)

Meteorologists[]

Doug Kammerer (AMS Certified) - Chief Meteorologist; Weeknights at 4, 5, 6 and 11pm (2010-present)
Tom Kierein (AMS) - Meteorologist; Weekday Mornings/Midday (1983-present)
Chuck Bell (AMS) - Meteorologist; Weekday Mornings/Midday (2004-present)
Amelia Draper - Meteorologist; Weekend Evenings at 6 and 11 pm (2013-present)
Lauryn Ricketts - Fill-in Meteorologist (2015-present)

Sports reporters[]

Carol Maloney - Sports anchor and reporter (2014-present)
Chris Miles - Sports anchor (2015-present); also at CSN Washington
Jason Pugh - Sports anchor (2012-present)
Sebastian Salazar - Sports anchor & reporter (2016-present); also at CSN Washington

Notable former on-air staff[]

James Adams - Weekend evening anchor/reporter (1997–2008)
Miguel Almaguer - General assignment reporter (2006–2009); now with NBC News as national correspondent, 2009.
Clay Anderson - Meteorologist (1999-2006)
Paul Anthony - Weekend weather anchor (1972–1979)
Mil Arcega - Weekend morning anchor/reporter (1998–2004)
Jess Atkinson - Sports anchor/reporter (1990–1996)
Morgan Beatty - Newscaster (1950s)
Neil Boggs - Anchor (1967–1972)
Shannon Bream - Weekend evening anchor/reporter (2004-2007) (now with Fox News Channel)
Glenn Brenner - Sports (1970-1976) - deceased
Andrea Brody - Sports reporter; Sports Machine correspondent (2002–2007)
Campbell Brown - Reporter (1993–1996; formerly with NBC News; and recently with CNN)
Wally Bruckner - Sports anchor/reporter (1990–2006) Washingtonpost.com Article of Wally Bruckner exit from WRC-TV
John Buren - Sports anchor/reporter (1977–1978)
Kelly Burke - Reporter; Wednesday's Child host (1976–1987)
Cheryl Butler - Reporter (2005–2008)
Arch Campbell - Entertainment reporter (1974–2006)
Darrian Chapman - Sports reporter (1995–2000; deceased)
Nick Charles - Sports anchor/reporter (1976–1979; also at WJZ-TV Baltimore; 1st CNN sports anchor) (deceased)
Scott Clark - Sports anchor (1980s; now with WABC-TV New York)
John Cochran - Reporter (early 1970s; now Capitol Hill correspondent at ABC News)
Richard L. Coe - Entertainment critic prior to Arch Campbell (1960s-1974; deceased)
Katie Couric - General assignment reporter (1987–1989; former NBC Today show co-host) - now with Yahoo News
Liz Crenshaw - Reporter (1980-2014)
Dan Daniels - Sports commentator (late 60s/early 70s)
Steve Doocy - Features reporter (1983-1989); now with Fox News Channel
Tony Dorsey - General assignment reporter (1998–2006)
Michael Flynn - general assignment reporter (2004 to 2009)
Peter Ford - News anchor (1977–1990)
Frank Forrester - Weatherman (1960s)
Andy Fox - reporter (1981–1986)
Keith Garvin - Reporter/Anchor (2006-2009); now at KTXA-TV in Dallas.
Robert Hager - Reporter (1960–1965; formerly an NBC News correspondent)
Mike Hambrick - Anchor (1981–1985)
Richard C. Harkness - News reporter/anchor (1940s–1960s)
Jim Hartz - Anchor (1976–1979)
Dan Hellie - Sports anchor (2006-2013)
I.J. Hudson - Technology reporter and anchor (1985–2007)
Andrew Humphrey - Meteorologist (1995–1998)
Charlayne Hunter-Gault - Reporter (1967–1968)
Debbi Jarvis - Anchor/reporter (1994–2003)
Veronica Johnson - Meteorologist (2000-2016); now at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
Dave Jones - Meteorologist (1991–2001)
Susan Kidd - Anchor (1983–2006)
Susan King - Coverage story anchor (1983–1987)
Joe Krebs - Anchor/Reporter (1980-2012)
Bob Kur - Reporter (1973–1976)
Marty Levin - Anchor/reporter (1980–1982)
Lynda Lopez - Reporter (1986-1997)
Shari Macias - Reporter (1994–2001)
Catherine "Cassie" Mackin - Anchor/reporter (1969-1972; deceased)
Suzanne Malveaux - Reporter (1996–1999)
Dave Marash - Anchor/reporter (1985–1989)
Bob McBride - Anchor/reporter (1982–1986) (deceased)
Robert McCormick - Reporter/commentator (1960s; deceased)
Doug McKelway - (?–2001) - reporter and anchor - now at Fox News Channel
George Michael - Sports anchor/reporter; former host of The George Michael Sports Machine (1980–March 25, 2007); hosted Monday segments from Redskins Park and Redskins Report/Full Court Press until December 2008^[7] (deceased as of December 24, 2009)
Jeff Napshin - General assignment reporter (2004–2006)
Charles Neal - Sports anchor(1970-1973)(2005-2008) now at ESPN
Angela Owens - Reporter (1981–1984)
Bryson Rash - Original anchor (June 27, 1947–1960s; President of National Press Club in 1963; news director when WRC won a Peabody Award for its Home Rule coverage in 1973; deceased)
Glenn Rinker - Anchor (1969–1976; deceased)
Max Robinson - reporter (1967–1968; deceased)
Charlie Rose - Talk show host (1981–1984) (now at CBS News; also hosting Charlie Ross on PBS and Bloomberg TV)
Jim Rosenfield - news anchor; now with WCAU in Philadelphia
Tim Russert - Frequent correspondent from Meet the Press; deceased
Dianna Russini - Sports anchor & reporter (2013-2015)
Bob Ryan - AMS Certified Meteorologist (1980-2010) (retired)
Mary Alice Salinas - Anchor/reporter (1995–2005)
Willard Scott - NBC page (1950; Bozo the Clown from 1959–1962; meteorologist (1968–1980) (retired)
Daniella Sealock - Weekday Morning Traffic reporter (2011-2014)
Karen Shanor 1980s - Psychologist, Author; Hosted a call-in show, with guests, centered on psychology
Dave "The Mouth" Sheehan - Sports anchor prior to George Michael (1975–1980)
Maurice Siegel - Sports commentator (late 60s/early 70s; deceased)
Sue Simmons - Anchor/reporter (1976–1980)
Carole Simpson - Reporter/public affairs host (1977–1982)
Jim Simpson - Sports reporter (1960s)
Jill Sorenson - Sports reporter (2000–2004)
Joel A. Spivak - Anchor (1987–1988)
Greg Starddard - General assignment reporter (2003–2005)
Tippy Stringer - "Weather girl" (mid 1950s)
Henry Tenenbaum - Anchor (1981–1987; formerly of WUSA-TV)
Fred Thomas - Anchor/reporter (1975–1987)
Lea Thompson - Anchor/reporter (1985–1992)
Tisha Thompson - I-Team reporter (2011-2016)
Steve Villanueva - Weekend meteorologist (2006–2009)
Jim Upshaw - Reporter (1982–1992
Kathy Vara - Reporter (1992–1994) (now at KNBC in Los Angeles)
Linda Vester - Reporter (1992–1993; formerly with Fox News Channel)
Todd Whitthorne - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1986-1990)
Don Williams - Reporter (1989–1990)
Chikage Windler - Meteorologist (1998–2003)
Jim Vance – anchor (1969–2017); died of cancer in 2017

Former producers[]

Brenda Mallory - News4 at 5; now owns consulting firm
Faith Murphy - Former Web producer of NBC4.com; launched local msnbc.com site (1996)

News/station presentation[]

Newscast titles[]

Review of the News (1947–1952)
Texaco Headlines (1952–1962)
Big City News (1962–1966)
News 4 Washington/News 4 (1966–1975)
The NewsCenter (1975–1977)
NewsCenter 4 (1977–1982)
Channel 4 News (1982–1987)
News 4 (1987–present)

Station slogans[]

Channel 4, Proud As A Peacock! (1979-1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Channel 4, Our Pride Is Showing (1981-1982; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
We`re Channel 4, Just Watch Us Now (1982-1983; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Channel 4 There, Be There (1983-1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Channel 4, Let's All Be There (1984-1986; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Come Home to Channel 4 (1986-1987; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Come on Home To Channel 4 (1987-1988; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Working for You' (1987–present; news)
Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 4 (1988-1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
WRC-TV, The Place To Be! (1990-1992; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
It`s A Whole New Channel 4 (1992-1993; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
The Stars Are Back on Channel 4 (1993-1994; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
NBC4, Connected to You (2006–2010; general)
We Are Washington (2011-?; general)